The announcement came on a Tuesday morning. Dev summoned Thripthi into his office, his tone clipped but his eyes steady. 

Dev: “We’re flying to Mumbai tomorrow. Zenith Global is finalizing a partnership with Orion Tech, and I need everything prepared. You’ll accompany me.” 

Thripthi (raising an eyebrow, playful): “So soon? I thought you didn’t like surprises.” 

Dev (dryly): “This isn’t a surprise. It’s business.” 

Thripthi (smiling): “Business with a side of adventure, then.” 

She left his office with her mischievous smile intact, but her heart raced. A business trip meant proximity—hours together, away from the structured corridors of Zenith Global. She wondered how Dev would handle it. 

---

The Flight

The next day, they boarded the company’s private jet. The cabin was sleek, quiet, and luxurious. Dev sat with his laptop open, already immersed in numbers. Thripthi, however, leaned back, gazing out at the clouds. 

Thripthi: “Do you ever stop working?” 

Dev (without looking up): “No.” 

Thripthi (teasing): “You should try it. Clouds are free entertainment.” 

Dev (finally glancing at her): “And what do they teach you?” 

Thripthi (grinning): “That even the sky doesn’t stay the same. Change is natural. You should learn from it.” 

Dev shook his head, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. For the rest of the flight, their silence was companionable—her gaze on the horizon, his on the numbers, yet both aware of the other. 

---

The Hotel

They arrived at a five-star hotel in Mumbai, the kind where chandeliers sparkled and staff bowed with precision. Thripthi admired the grandeur, but Dev moved through it with practiced indifference. 

At the reception, the clerk handed them their keys. 

Clerk: “Two executive suites, side by side.” 

Thripthi caught Dev’s glance—brief, unreadable—but she smiled mischievously. 

Thripthi: “Relax, Mr. CEO. I won’t invade your fortress.” 

Dev (smirking faintly): “Good.” 

Her suite was elegant, with a balcony overlooking the city. She stood there for a moment, breathing in the humid air, feeling the pulse of Mumbai. Somewhere next door, Dev was probably already buried in spreadsheets. 

---

The Meeting

The next morning, they met Orion Tech’s executives. Dev was sharp, commanding, his words precise. Thripthi sat beside him, taking notes, but occasionally interjecting with observations. 

Orion Executive: “Your projections are impressive, but we worry about sustainability.” 

Dev (firmly): “Zenith Global doesn’t just grow. We endure.” 

Thripthi (smiling): “And we adapt. That’s why we’re here—to show you we’re not just numbers, but people who understand change.” 

The executives nodded, visibly impressed. Dev glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes carried a flicker of acknowledgment. 

---

The Clash

Later that evening, back at the hotel, Dev confronted her. 

Dev: “You spoke when you weren’t asked to.” 

Thripthi (calmly): “I spoke when it mattered. And it worked.” 

Dev (stern): “You’re my assistant, not my partner.” 

Thripthi (softly, but with spark): “Maybe I’m both.” 

The silence between them was sharp, charged with tension. Dev’s jaw tightened, but his eyes betrayed something else—curiosity, perhaps even admiration. 

---

Private Reflections

That night, Thripthi stood on her balcony, the city lights shimmering below. She thought about the day—the flight, the meeting, the clash. Dev unsettled her, but he also intrigued her. She had seen the way his eyes softened when the executives responded to her words. He might deny it, but he had noticed. 

Inside his suite, Dev sat by the window, replaying her words. Maybe I’m both. He hated being challenged, yet he couldn’t dismiss her. She was bold, mischievous, and dangerously honest. For the first time, he wondered if this business trip was more than just business. 

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